Hair and Beauty Adverts from the 1920s

The majority of adverts from the 1920s use illustrations – even famous faces were most likely drawn. Photography was used occasionally.

Some adverts have a lot of narrative, describing in great detail how wonderful their products are and how to use them – a real insight into the thinking of the era.

The way women were depicted in adverts changes throughout the decade, from shy and demure at the start, to confident and sexy by the end. This was, in part, influenced by the way the glamorous stars of the screen looked.